Category : Roofing Shingles Cost

Installing asphalt roof shingles doesn’t have to be hard, time-consuming or costly – if you follow some simple guidelines. Asphalt shingles are among the most popular roofing materials, and installing a roof yourself can be quick and easy because there is so much guidance available on how to do it well. It doesn’t need a lot of expensive equipment, or even a lot of skill or expertise. Prices vary for professional installation services, so be sure to do your homework and look around for a good contractor.

Starting With The Under-Layer

This is very important to get right. The under-layer acts as the waterproofing layer. There are different types of material available. You can use tar paper or felt lining for this, and secure the layer to the roof with staples. In addition, if weather conditions locally make it necessary, you may add ice and water shields too. This is nothing but a granulated surface, to protect your roof from water seeping through. Adding galvanized tin into the troughs and valleys can provide extra protection.

Installing Asphalt Roof Shingles

Asphalt shingles come in packs or bundles. The individual shingles are all of the same size. To ensure the roof sits smoothly and nicely, you’ll have to trim off some bits from the edge of shingles so that as you go uphill, the sizes of the shingles are just right to give a seamless fit. This happens by staggering the seams.

First place shingles along the eaves. Nail these pieces firmly to the roof, leaving some extra over the edge for water to drip off. Technically, this layer is called the start shingle.

Then, lay the first row of asphalt roof shingles. Line it up with the bottom of the roof, and nail it into place with a hammer and using the appropriate sized nail. Usually you will nail the shingle in front of a sticky strip that helps seal it to the next row. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as they are specific to the brand and kind of asphalt shingles you are using.

Create Overlapping Rows

Ensuring that your shingles overlap will prevent any water seepage through to the roof. By avoiding successive layers to fall one over the other, you will minimize any risk that water will find its way through gaps. Roofing cement applied to the corrugated underside of shingles can further help reduce this risk.

Roofing tar can help hold the shingles in place until the overlapping shingle is cut, and installed in place. Place each seam in the middle of a valley, a method called single weave, so that there’s extra protection against leaking.

At the peak, bending a few shingles to create a roof cap will give a nice, even split from one side of the roof to the other. Make sure no nails are exposed, and that there is no gap. By following a simple sequence of steps when installing asphalt roof shingles, you will ensure that you create a perfectly sealed roof. Architectural shingles have their own pros and cons. You may also apply them instead of asphalt shingles, if you want a posh and stylish look.

Installing architectural roof shingles does not always have to be a job for a professional. It is well within the capabilities of a reasonably skilled do-it-yourself’er, provided you take some common sense precautions (and maybe get yourself a helper or two).

Architectural roof shingles are more expensive than regular slate shingles, but this doesn’t mean that you have to spend even more on a costly pro or contractors to install them for you. Of course, if your roof is extremely steep or has unique features (such as proximity to drainpipes or electrical installations or solar panels), then you may be wise to outsource the task.

There are some dangers involved in roofing work. The most obvious one is that you may fall off the roof and injure yourself badly. Other risks to keep in mind are:

injuring your back by hauling heavy loads up a ladder

dropping material on someone standing below

losing balance while climbing up and down the ladder

slipping on steep roofs

The good news is that you can get through installing architectural roof shingles without harm or disaster by taking some simple precautions and following safe systems.

Let someone know you’re working on the roof.

Have a helper work with you, to hand over material and instruments.

Use a strong and long enough steel ladder.

Make sure your ladder is grounded solidly and won’t slip.

Take care that you are not dangerously close to electrical installations or power lines or antennae.

Don’t work on rainy days or when it snows. Wait until even morning dew evaporates before starting.

Wear heavy shoes with soles that have a good grip. That will avoid skidding.

Don’t wear loose clothes that may catch on something and make you lose balance.

Wall off (or clearly label) the surrounding area so people won’t wander too near and get hurt if something falls of the roof.

Before you begin, make sure that you have all the materials and supplies you need for installing architectural roof shingles. You’ll require the shingles, obviously, and nails, hammers, pneumatic nail drivers (optional), starter strip sheeting and other specific material based upon your unique needs.

Measure the dimensions of your roof. Compare this against the size of the individual architectural shingles and estimate how many you will require to roof your residential structure. Your choice should be governed by the purpose of the building, how much your roof slopes, local weather conditions and the overall structure of your home. Other factors may be specific to the kind of architectural shingles you are using, so be sure to read the specifications or check with your tiles manufacturers or sales person before you begin work.

If you are re-roofing the building, remove the older tiles or shingles. Install a starter strip, as backing for the first row of shingles. This also helps water leaks from soaking through to the interior. Install architectural shingles starting from the lower corner. Work your way to the right, and then go uphill. Overlap the shingles in a way that there are no gaps. Hammer down the shingles, or use a pneumatic nail gun.

Giving the rows of shingles an overhang will help avoid water dripping down and causing wear and tear on the veneer. If there are penetrations like a plumbing vent, then you may have to seal off the gaps using plastic or rubber flanges. At the very top of the roof, make sure that you over-lap the shingles, and then use ridge cap shingles to cover the peak. You may use a dab of tar to hold down loose corners.

Installing architectural roof shingles can give your building a pleasing, textured look that’s elegant and sleek. Done right, you can save a lot by shingling your roof without compromising on quality – and avoid getting hurt!

When it comes to roof truss prices every home owner will agree that it makes up an essential component of budget computations and costs. Roof trusses come in various configurations. Some are prefabricated for ease of installation. Others that are customized to your taste are available in different options that are priced to be attractive to any budget. Cheaper and simple roof trusses can cost a few hundred bucks. The more spacious and elaborate ones are priced higher.

Any roof can have one or more trusses. Some buildings have three. In addition, other extensions such as gables and hips may be additionally present. Depending upon this, the roof truss prices may vary.

Broadly speaking, when a house has more than one trusses, the complexity is greater which increases the cost of construction. It may seem attractive to get 3 individual trusses because of the lower price. But three single trusses are not suitable in places where a triple truss is necessary.

Triple trusses price ranges around $1,000 whereas a single truss costs $100. Roof truss prices for double trusses are approximately $600. But getting the right kind for any building will provide the greatest value.

A roof shingle calculator can help home owners by serving as a quick and easy ready-reckoner for estimations over roofing shingle quantities needed for constructing a building. Roof shingles are sold in bundles, or based on the number of shingles needed to roof a square (100 square feet).

When delivered by the manufacturer, shingles are wrapped in paper or in plastic. The bundles are organized so that they can be easily carried by workers and lifted up onto roofs, even with higher buildings. For this reason, a bundle of lighter shingles will have more pieces, and can cover a larger area of roof than a comparable bundle of heavy roofing shingles.

This becomes important while ordering roofing shingles for your home. With heavy shingles, you will need to order more bundles to cover similar areas of roof.

As a broad rule of thumb, it takes 3 bundles of shingles to roof a square. 3 tab roofing shingles which are the most popularly used types follow this rule closely. But because they are purely functional and rather ugly looking, modern homes do not feature plain and simple 3 tab shingles but instead sport more attractive architectural shingles.

When you use a roof shingle calculator to estimate shingle counts, keep in mind that heavier shingles will require more bundles in order to cover the same area. It may take 4 to 5 bundles of heavier shingles to roof one square. For more information about roof shingle calculator use in estimating shingle count read this special report – click here

Roofing materials prices are in a constant state of flux and change. They are dependent upon what kind of roofing materials you will use, how those materials have been made, and also upon how they are installed on any roof.

In general, going with the same or similar type of roofing which the building had earlier had is a good idea rather than experimenting with something new and different. However, if the earlier roof was leaky or terribly disappointing, the home owner may prefer a radical deviation from the current bad result. In such cases, it pays to carry out the research in advance to prevent unpleasant surprises.

Many roofs are manufactured from plywood decking. Shingles are then layered on top of them. This type of roofing is the most common and you’ll find them on many residential and commercial constructions. Roofing materials prices will reflect this design and structure, and factor in the material used in replacing plywood, flashing and the actual cost of roofing shingles.

Roof truss prices are an important component of home construction. The roof trusses which are available in several prefabricated configurations are available. There are several options to help make the roof either cheap and simple or for a few hundred dollars more get a more spacious roof that occupies a lot more area.

Roofs can have single, two or three trusses. They can hips, gables and other extensions. Here are some roof truss prices to give you an idea about the costs involved for different roof trusses. Generally more trusses in a roof structure more is the cost as the complexity of making it increases. On the other hand buying three single trusses is way cheaper but it is not suitable to use them where a treble truss may be needed. 3 attic trusses cost $300 dollar, with each truss costing $100. A double truss costs $600 dollars while a treble truss costs around $1000 dollars.

The above prices are just indicators of what you are likely to see in the prefabricated truss market. If you designed your roof with headroom then suitable roof trusses, attic trusses and other trusses can be ordered to help increase the livable area inside your home. The increased space in the roof can also be used as storage space for a variety of purposes.

These specialized trusses called attic trusses are designed for domestic floor loads have sections for room above the floor of the attic. These have larger timber sections which also take into consideration such factors as insulation and ventilation requirements of the local building codes. The roof truss prices for attic type of trusses are a little higher but the benefits you get from such a roof is immense. There isn’t much difference in how the normal trusses and attic trusses are manufactured.

Even though the prices are higher, it is a very affordable and simple way to increase the floor area inside any family home. If it is done while the home is designed the costs work out much cheaper than if you decide to go in for attic conversion later on in your life when the costs can run into several thousands dollars. Compared to what it will cost you later the roofing truss prices are very cheap.

The attic trusses are designed as one single solid component and there is no need to construct the roof and rafter levels separately as these trusses take care of those factors and reduce your overall cost. Going for prefabricated attic trusses is a great advantage in such circumstances. There are experienced and highly qualified engineers who will translate your every requirement into the perfect truss design for your home incorporating all your needs like dormers, staircases, dormers, skylights, windows and roof lights.

There are top manufacturers of trusses who offer the whole roofing package including attic trusses, standard and dormer trusses, all the timber needed for infills, staircase sections and much more if your order from them. All these are available at reasonable roof truss prices.

Roof shingle calculator is a sort of a ready reckoner to help estimate the roofing shingle needs for a home. The shingles needed for a roofing job are sold in either bundles or squares. A square as you might know is a roofing term used to denote hundred square feet of roof. Shingles are sold wrapped in plastic or paper and the bundles weigh light enough so a person can lift them comfortably and transport it up to the roof. So, if you compare a light-weight shingle bundle and a heavier roof shingle bundle you will find the light-weight shingles will cover more area than the heavier ones. So, you will have to buy more of the heavier shingles bundles to cover the same area.

As a general packaging rule, 3 bundles of roofing shingles cover one roofing square. This rule applies to the low-cost 3-tab strip shingles. But, today most homes no longer use these shingles as they are not as long-lasting or aesthetically attractive. So, when using roof shingle calculator remember that the heavier shingles need more bundles to cover the same area. 4-5 bundles of heavier or laminated shingles will cover the area of one square.

From the above discussion you will have an idea that you need to know the roofing area to be able to accurately place an order for the roofing shingles. If you input the area into the roof shingle calculator you will be able to arrive at the number of bundles to buy. When buying roofing shingles you also have to keep in mind the fact that roofing needs a lot of overlap not only on the plain surfaces but at the ridges, valleys, around chimneys, at the edges and as starter shingles. All these have to be factored into our ordering quantity.

There are a mainly two methods used to find the area of a roof. One is the direct measurement method where the roof is physically measured and in the other is the sheet count which is a much simpler and easier method of finding the roofing area even if it is less accurate than the measurement method. In finding the roofing area we are not bothered about getting very accurate answers. If it is as close to the actual area as possible than that is quite sufficient.

Once you get the roof area and key it into the roof shingle calculator remember that you have to also order extra bundles to cover for any shingles that are damaged or torn during their laying, the extra shingles for the starters, the shingles for overlapping, the shingles for ridges and valleys. You will an extra 4-5 bundles of shingles depending on how much of a careful roofer you are.

In the sheet count method we count the number of plywood sheets covering the whole roof. Add up the sheet areas and we get the roofing area. If you have any half sheet, quarter sheets on the roof just add them up to get full sheets. Now, enter the details in your roof shingle calculator and get the number of bundles to order and prices.